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We had an event downtown for work tonight to raise money for two of our programs, as well as to get young people interested in our organization. I was working the registration/donation tables in the front when I noticed a man walk in who looked just slightly out of place. He had an air of confidence and was definitely wearing clothes that were more expensive than anyone else’s who was there (and I have no doubt there were people attending that had more money than him). I had a flash of recognition when I saw him, but I couldn’t place him. Then he came up to my table, and I felt reasonably convinced that he was who I thought he was. He wanted to donate, so I walked with him over to the credit card machine (old school swipe style, that’s how we do) and began talking to him. He introduced himself, and I replied with, “I thought so.”

“Do we know each other?” he asked me.

“No, but I’ve seen you,” I responded, oh so non-chalantly.

“What’s your name?”

I introduced myself, and we talked about the organization and what he was doing in town, and then he went his way, and I stayed at my table, a little impressed with myself for not being overly impressed with his celebrity.

You see, this man is a main character on a very popular cable television show*. He wasn’t clean shaven, so he looked a little different than he does on TV, and seeing someone in real life is not the same as seeing them on tv (he was a little shorter than I thought he’d be, but he has great skin, and I believe the scarf he was wearing was homemade). Plus, in real life he’s not an asshole. Although he seemed a little on the eccentric side. But I probably am, too, so I shouldn’t judge.

About 30 minutes later, he walked up to me and held his right hand out. I gave him my left hand, but then took it away and gave my right to him. “I’m not sure which one you want.”

He let go of my right hand and grabbed my left, and we were standing facing each other. “This is the one I want.”

He told me that he needed to go, and I asked him why. He said because of where his car was parked. I felt like at that moment, if I asked him if I could go with him, he would’ve said yes. Part of me wanted to, but most of me is much too sensible to do anything like that. So I let him squeeze my hand a final time, and I said good night.

*I didn’t give his name to try to seem like I think that I’m that cool but because I don’t think it’s fair to post details about other people’s lives without their permission.

I turned 28 on Thursday, the denouement of what I considered to be the “year of Jenna,” as self-centered as that sounds. But that’s what I needed it to be, as I redefined my life.

As hard as it is to say it, I’m not where I wanted to be at 28. And as difficult as it has been to accept that, it’s brought me to have the best year of my life. Things were dicey at the outset, but right now, I have that feeling you have when you finish a delicious meal without overeating: completely satiated and content, having enough energy to dance in the living room without worrying about needing to throw up. I’ve found happiness in knowing that if I were at where I’d thought I’d be by now, I would’ve realized that it wasn’t what I wanted.

So, to better explain where I’ve been this year, here’s a list:

1: new apartment

17: pounds of love. Also known as Pierre, my cat, if you hadn’t figured that out yet.

3: cans of Fancy Feast I feed him every day

1: time that Pierre broke my screen and jumped out my second floor window

2: dresses I sewed without patterns

5: refashions of my old clothing (and only 1 failure that had to be thrown out!)

6: skirts, all by patterns I made myself or modified existing (again, 1 failure that I plan on making in to a shirt, that is, when I figure out how I’m going to go about that)

1: story I sent in to the New York Times to have published. They actually emailed me back, too, so I’m reasonably sure someone read it.

4: out of the 5 goals I set for myself at the beginning of the year that I actually accomplished. And, yes, one of them was the one I wrote about here.

Infinite: amount of love that I have felt from friends, family, and random people on the street who always seem to show up to give me the compliment I didn’t know I needed. I have never felt more loved than I have this year.

I have new goals for this next year. Some are already in motion (I’m going to Spain!), others aren’t fully formed. But I’m not going to let this upward momentum lose its speed.

My fridge is a work of art: everything on there has a specific and defined place. And this is what is at my eye level:

I’ve been searching for weeks now, until yesterday, when I saw his picture on the Humane Society of Minnesota‘s website. You know it, I adopted a cat!

Meet Pierre le Géant, alias “Wilbur.” (Wilbur was his former name; I’m currently calling him “Willbur Pierre” and after awhile will drop the Wilbur completely. I don’t exactly know the best way to get a cat used to its new name.)

I’ve added the “le Géant” after André the Giant, as my new kitty, is huge. Enormous. The Biggest Cat I’ve Ever Seen. Well, his former brother is actually even larger. Ok, I keep getting backtracked. Here’s the backstory:

Pierre/Wilbur and Norman were surrendered to the Humane Society about a week ago when their owner moved. That’s all I really know about his past. Now, this makes me a little upset, as I don’t think a pet is like a pair of shoes. You don’t throw them away when you’ve had them a couple years. When you move, you move your cat with you. Or don’t get a cat if you think you won’t be able to have one in a couple years. Pierre’s my cat now, and I’m his forever home.

He’s 4 years old. You might wonder why I didn’t adopt his brother, too, but they’re not actually brothers and, according to the Humane Society, weren’t bonded together. Norman, the brother, is an orange tabby like Pierre, and quite cute as well, but when I said hi to him, he looked at me, and then laid back down. While Pierre, he has great eye contact, important in any relationship, and is a total lover. He has a soft, quiet purr. He’s been meowing a little, but that’s to be expected with all his changes over the last week, and he’s already starting to be quieter as the night goes on.

He’s also already showed me his hilarious happy dance. When he’s happy, he wiggles his butt while he walks. So funny.

The ride home wasn’t so much fun; he got nervous and peed in his carrier. Luckily, the peeps at the Society put his blanket in the carrier, so that took the full impact.

But as soon as he got home, he took a little tour all by himself, and now is quite satisfied. I thought he might hide for a little while as got settled, but, nope, this home is his home.

Ok, back to his size. Get this: Pierre weighs 16 pounds. 16 pounds!!!!! He is a little overweight, but most of it is just that he’s a big cat.

Sorry, I’m in love. But, I promise that it won’t all be about Pierre from now on. But, be prepared for sometimes. And cute pictures.

Well, to be clear, I switched things up a lot a couple months ago. As you dear readers can ascertain, my blog has a new name and a new theme. I am never going to air my dirty laundry online, but I’m sure you’re all smart enough to figure out what happened, in case you happen to be a random stalker, or perhaps a friend I haven’t talked to in awhile.

I’m all moved in a settled in an apartment not far from Lake Calhoun in Minneapolis (oh, yes, the old ’76 Schwinn is going to get regular exercise again once the snow melts and she gets new tires!). It’s a one-bedroom on the corner of the building with gorgeous hardwood floors (my best guess is cedar, but what do I know?). A couple dear, dear friends helped me paint before I moved in. Yes, all those colors at the top of the screen are names of paint I have on my walls.

I’ve still got room for a little sewing nook, and I’ve been keeping busy with projects. And while I already feel settled in, my list of apartment projects keeps growing.

Speaking of growing, sadly, no more garden for me. However, I’m definitely going to be testing the proverbial waters of apartment gardening and see what happens. I also am going to make a request to the apartment manager and see how they feel about me using my green thumb in the building’s entrance. My mom thinks it’s a good idea. I do, too.

So, stay tuned as I’ve already completed a bunch of things and will be unveiling them soon!

Until then, here is a picture of my recent trip to Cali to see my sister and niece. Eva and I made cookies, and I do believe she is a cookie decorator after my own heart…